Summit Volunteer Honored During EMS Week

Wed, 2015-05-20 16:26 -- John Staunton

Jonathan Salazar an Emergency Medical Technician with the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad was honored by Overlook Medical Center with the EMT Excellence Award at Overlook’s annual EMS Awards dinner last night. Overlook has sponsored this event for many years to observe National Emergency Medical Services Week and recognize area pre-hospital emergency medical providers.

Jonathan joined the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad in 2006 where he remains a member of the Tuesday day crew. Squad Captain Kari Phair, who nominated Jonathan for the award said, “I have had the opportunity to respond to emergencies with Jonathan allowing for first-hand experience in observing him provide patient care, take the initiative and improve his first aid skills”.

This past winter Jonathan and his crew responded to a very serious sledding accident that resulted in the young patient being impaled on a piece of reinforcing bar. Jonathan recognized the seriousness of the injury stayed by the child’s side as they assessed how they were going to extricate him from the rebar. Jonathan remained calm, reassuring and continued to monitor the boy as the Fire Department worked on freeing him from the connected rebar. Once the child was freed it took some precise teamwork and careful packaging to avoid further injury. Jonathan continued communicating, reassuring, and monitoring the patient keeping the boy as calm as possible. Ms. Phair cited this as just one example of Jonathan’s ability to draw upon both his EMT and his interpersonal skills during a tense situation and feels this is why he is so highly respected by his colleagues.

The all-volunteer Summit First Aid Squad is always looking for new members to join its ranks. All needed training, uniforms and equipment is provided. For more information, Click Here or call (908) 277-9479.